Clamping device.



No. 858,965. 7 PATENTED JULY 2, 1907. D. M. DEVER. GLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 190 7.

DANIEL MARSHALL DEVER, OF QULIN, MISSOURI.

CLAMPING DE VICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed April 6, 1907. Serial No- 366,853

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL MARSHALL Dnvnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Qulin, in the county of Butler and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamping Devices,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clamping devices designed especially, for connecting the meeting ends of metal girders or the like in bridge construction, and has for 1() its objects to provide a comparatively simple, inexpensive device of this character which may be readily applied for use, one whereby the girders will be firmly and securely connected, and one by means of which the ends of the girders may be properly drawn together in the operation of uniting them.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown a plan view of a pair of girder sections having their meeting ends connected by means of a clamp embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1, 1, designate a pair of metal girders of ordinary form assembled in endwise relation, as shown, and having their meeting ends connected by aclamping device 2 embodying the invention.

The device 2, which forms the subject-matter oi the present invention, embodies a pair of levers 3 fulcrunled between their ends as at 4 respectively to the girder sections 1 at points suitably remote from the ends of the latter, the outer ends of the levers being connected by a sectional connecting element or rod 5, the sections of which are in turn connected by a turn buckle 6.

Arranged for coijperation with the levers 3 is a pair of crossed tensioning members or links 7 each pivoted at one end as at 8 to oneof the girder sections and having its other end engaged with the inner end of the lever 3 carried by the other girder section, it being noted in this connection that the inner ends of the levers'3 are provided with engaging portions or heads 9 with which the ends of the links 7 engage, while the outer ends of the levers have heads 10 adapted for engagement with the ends of the connecting rod 5. In practice, and in connecting the girder sections 1, the levers 3 are pivoted respectively to the girders, after which the links 7 are pivotally secured in place and engaged with the inner ends of the lovers, the outer ends of which are finally connected through the medium of the rod 5. After the parts have been connected as shown, the turn buckle is manipulated for tensioning the element 5 to draw the outer ends of the levers toward each other, whereby power will be exerted on the links 7 for drawing the ends of the girder sections toward each other, as will be readily understood, it being evident that under this construction and arrangement not only are the meeting ends of the girders securely connected but provision is made for properly tensioning the girders and drawing their adjacent ends together.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is:

1. A device for connecting girder sections comprising a pair of levers pivoted between their ends respectively to said sections, a pair of crossed links engaged respectively with the inner ends of said levers and having their other ends pivoted respectively to the girder sections, and means for moving the outer ends of the lovers toward each other for exerting tension on the links to draw the ends of the sections toward each other.

2. A device for connecting girder sections comprising a pair of levers pivoted between their ends respectively to said sections, a connecting rod extended between and engaged with the outer ends 'of the levers, a pair of crossed tensioning links each pivoted at one end to one of the girders and having its other end engaged with the inner end of the far lever, a sectional connecting rod engaged with the outer ends of the levers and a turn buckle connecting rod sections and operable for drawing the outer ends of the levers toward each other to exert tension on the links and bring the ends of the girder sections to gether.

I11 testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL MARSHALL DEVER.

Witnesses S. L. INGALLS, J. H. HARWELL. 

